When Don Shanks lost his best friend, former Queens Park Ranger teammate, Stan Powers, last year due to Alzheimer's disease, he vowed to wear running shoes. Seven years ago, Shanks completed a New York marathon and raised £50,000 for medical care at Powers. Now, in support of the Alzheimer's Association, the 73-year-old will set foot on the streets of New York again on November 2 (two days after his birthday).
Bowles, who was selected as the best player in Queens Park Rangers history and owns the exclusive stands of the stadium, passed away in February 2024. The former England international has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease for eleven years, affecting about one million people in the UK and has become the number one killer in the UK. Data from the Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute shows that by 2040, there are 1.4 million patients in the UK.
Shanks told the Sun: "Stan is gone, but dementia is still there. I promised to fight this terrible disease in memory of him. I spent 4 hours and 11 minutes last time running a marathon, but I was only 66 years old. The goal is set at about 6 hours."
Shanks is currently preparing for the battle in Egypt, and will then go to Tampa to meet with Queen's Park Rangers and former teammate Rodney Marsh, and then go to New York together.
He said: "I have quit drinking and burgers for nearly a month, and I know it will be a difficult challenge, but compared to the key work of the Alzheimer's Association to help patients, it is only a small price."
Whether during the game or after retirement, Don Shanks and Stan Powers were inseparable. Shanks witnessed his friend's erosion by the disease: "Stan has contributed everything to football."
"He is my best partner, but this is not only for him, but also for those in the country who need help in the unknown."
"The Alzheimer's Association provides great support for families suffering from dementia. I hope to raise 100,000 pounds. Although this goal is ambitious, it can be achieved with the help of everyone."